We Have Been Commanded to Write and be a Record-Keeping People

We Have Been Commanded to

Write
and be a RecordKeeping People
1

We Have Been Commanded to Write and be a Record-Keeping People

Why Write In A Journal? For our families, that they might know us and our works To inspire ourselves and anyone else who may read our journal. Your past may give someone else hope for their future. Journals can build up our testimonies and give us courage in difficult times as we read again and again of sacred personal experiences we have recorded To set goals and track our progress and become a better person. We can set our priorities and make promises to ourselves and the Lord. It can be a positive way to get rid of anger or frustration. Writing can help you express some of the emotions - until you can let go of the feelings, learn from the experience, and consider appropriate alternatives. Writing about your problems can help you come up with solutions as you think through them. Your journal can make you a better person, since knowing that you are going to record your actions can encourage you to do worthwhile things It gives you the opportunity to continually bear your testimony We have been commanded to write and keep a record To remember the Lord in our daily lives

To keep and preserve our memories. Interesting details can fade quickly. As you read your journal you can be reminded of blessings or events you may have forgotten To record of the ways Heavenly Father blesses us, watches over us and answers our prayers Journaling can help you make difficult decisions by letting you look at the situation with a different point of view

It can help you understand yourself better. All of your daily experiences add up to help create who you are Your journal can be a valuable teacher. It can provide a few minutes to review the day and learn from each experience. The story of Gods dealings with mankind could not be written without the records of eyewitnesses. And the records of regular people are just as important as those of greater political or righteous standing. Writing your journal is valuable time spent with yourself, listening to yourself.

For the record and history of this church and kingdom will be wanted in a future day. There has been no dispensation on earth... which will be more interesting than the one in which we live It gives you the chance to let some whisperings trickle through you from your own spirit, as well as from the Spirit of the Lord

The act of writing in a journal can help a person deal with emotional pressures

We Have Been Commanded to Write and be a Record-Keeping People

Why Write In A Journal? Youll feel a sense of peace and accomplishment after you have finished recording something in your journal Sacred experiences gain validity and strength by being recorded. Our journal is a permanent reminder of what and who we are becoming A life recorded day by day and page by page assumes pattern and purpose. A journal then becomes a vehicle for seeing Gods interaction with us. Patterns emerge, and you can see more clearly the hand of the Lord in your life. You can see how he has helped you and answered some prayers by events, not revelations, in a quiet way that escaped you in the past. A journal is a good way to express feelings to sensitive to share with anyone else

It helps you get closer in touch with the Lords time frame, when you can read your own intimate history over a period of months rather than days A truthful portrayal of the challenges and conquerings of life can help the writer in the future. He can see how varied and rich his life has been, how the Lord has blessed him, how his strength has grown, and how his knowledge of the Lords love for him has increased. When we write about our gratitude in our journals we can relive and savor these experiences which will encourage us to experience them more often

Its okay to make mistakes, your journal doesnt have to be perfect. Perfect penmanship or creative writing has nothing to do with journaling. Dont worry about the spelling mistakes and grammar.

People often use the excuse that their lives are uneventful and nobody would be interested in what they have done. But I promise you that if you will keep your journals and records, they will indeed be a source of great inspiration to your families, to your children, your grandchildren, and others, on through the generations. Each of us is important to those who are near and dear to usand as our posterity read of our lifes experiences, they, too, will come to know and love us. And in that glorious day when our families are together in the eternities, we will already be acquainted.
Spencer W. Kimball, President Kimball Speaks Out on Personal Journals, New Era, Dec 1980, 26

For this is what the Lord has commanded, and those who keep a personal journal are more likely to keep the Lord in remembrance in their daily lives.
Spencer W. Kimball, President Kimball Speaks Out on Personal Journals, New Era, Dec 1980, 26

We Have Been Commanded to Write and be a Record-Keeping People

Journal Starters What is your fondest memory with each of your siblings What are your parents like What are the full names of our friends, family and relatives What games do you play What do you do with your friends What church activities do you attend What are your top five favourite songs What kind of food do you like What is your greatest achievement so far in your life What goals do you have for the next week, month, year I was so happy/sad when... When I go to church I feel... I want people to know me as the one who... When I meet the Savior, I want him to say to me... What are your biggest challenges in life? How are you going to overcome or resolve them How is your testimony growing or changing What are you doing each day to live like Jesus would want you to Today I am thankful for... Describe your earliest memory Tell about your favourite food or recipe What is one of your most spiritual experiences What are you most afraid of What old buildings are in your town right now Where do you and your friends hang out What is a regular day like for you What kind of clothes do you wear and how do you style your hair What is your biggest fear What sports do you play or like to watch What is the happiest memory you have Whenever I have free time I like to... I like/dislike... because... I laughed/cried so hard when... (person you admire) is so ... I wish I could... like they do. If I could change one thing about my life, it would be... What are your blessings - including your family and your temporal and spiritual blessings What are your favourite scripture stories What is one new thing you learned today One goal Im working on and the progress Im making List some of your family traditions Write about your favourite hymn or song

We Have Been Commanded to Write and be a Record-Keeping People

Journal Starters Write about how you felt during the day even if you dont think you did anything momentous Write an account of something you saw or did, instead of just saying you did it. Details capture the experience. Draw a picture of your pet or one the that you like and write about it Write about your favourite scripture and why you like it My full name, birthdate and place of birth, age, height, weight, eye color, hair color, parents and siblings names What are my talents and skills Record a time when youve had your prayers answered The Prophet has told us to... How has the Holy Ghost helped me List the names of the bishop, your primary teacher, your home teachers and how they have all helped you Tell a story your mom or dad has told you about when you were a baby Pick someone who is a hero in your life, and write about them Think of a book youve read, and explain why it has made a difference in your life Bear your testimony of tithing, the Word of Wisdom, or another gospel principle Write about when youve felt the Spirit

List how you can be more like Jesus Christ List the things you are thankful for What Id like to be when I grow up List people who have made good choices and set a good example for you How can I be a good friend

Your private journal should record the way you face up to challenges that beset you. Do not suppose life changes so much that your experiences will not be interesting to your posterity. Experiences of work, relations with people, and an awareness of the rightness and wrongness of actions will always be relevant. Your journal, like most others, will tell of problems as old as the world and how you dealt with them.
Spencer W. Kimball, President Kimball Speaks Out on Personal Journals, New Era, Dec 1980, 26

Your journal should contain your true self rather than a picture of you when you are made up for a public performance... The truth should be told, but we should not emphasize the negative.
Spencer W. Kimball, President Kimball Speaks Out on Personal Journals, New Era, Dec 1980, 26

We Have Been Commanded to Write and be a Record-Keeping People

Things to Write About It is all right to mention problems, doubts, and dislikes, but emphasize normal days and happy times Tell about the funny or embarrassing things that happen in your life Note medical history, both personal and family. When did you go to the dentist? When did your sister have her baby? Note the prices of things, what is the cost of milk, stamps, candy bar, ticket to the movies, etc Write about a special lesson, talk, or activity to help you remember it Write about deaths, births, marriages, baptisms, and endowments Write about personal counsel, promises, and blessings received and the circumstances surrounding them Write about good and bad days. They can be a source of inspiration and comfort for you and for your descendants to see that Grandma was human too. Tell about your work experiences Record your relationships with others Record faith-promoting experiences Record your testimony Have all of your blessings written and preserve them. What has the Lord done for you Ask yourself, if I was reading my great-greatgrandmothers journal what would I want to read about? Talk about how you feel and what is going on in your life Note family events, vacations, weddings, deaths, special activities Make a record of music you listen to, movies you watch, books you read, and what you think of them Record typical outings with your family and friends Write thoughts, quotes, sayings, proverbs, poems, etc that you find thoughtful and inspiring Write about personal triumphs, failures and struggles and how they were met Write about current events (local, national, and world) that impress you or influence your life Include your goals, hopes and aspirations

Record the joys and sorrows with family members and friends Tell about your deepest thoughts and feelings Write about special learning experiences Note counsel for future generations or for your future self What would you like to remember about your self What would you like to tell your children or grandchildren about yourself Write interesting descriptions of the people you associate with. Describe them physically and also describe their personalities

We Have Been Commanded to Write and be a Record-Keeping People

Things to Write About Describe places you go, where you live, your school, your meetinghouse, and where you go on vacations Record how you feel about the Lord and about your experiences as a member of the Church Make lists. List your blessings, your friends, your classes at school, your favourite foods, songs, movies, books, scriptures. Then describe the items in your lists. Describe how you feel and why and what you do when you feel that way Write about the person you really are - a child of God struggling with the challenges and imperfections of life but growing, learning, developing and improving Write letters in your journal. Write to a future person in your life, like your child or spouse or to someone in your past, like an ancestor. If you send letters to others, include in your journal some of the major points you wrote in the letter In the back of your journal, keep a list of all the things you have accomplished and trials that you have overcome. Add to it every time you do something new that was difficult for you but you did it anyways! This is a reminder that Heavenly Father gives us challenges to make us stronger.

Read your journal from exactly a year ago to the day and compare your life then with your life now. Then describe what youd like to see happen in your life a year from now.

2 Nephi 25:23 For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God...

You should continue on in this important work of recording the things you do, the things you say, the things you think, to be in accordance with the instructions of the Lord. Your story should be written now while it is fresh and while the true details are available.
Spencer W. Kimball, President Kimball Speaks Out on Personal Journals, New Era, Dec 1980, 26

What could you do better for your children and your childrens children than to record the story of your life, your triumphs over adversity, your recovery after a fall, your progress when all seemed black, your rejoicing when you had finally achieved? Some of what you write may be humdrum dates and places, but there will also be rich passages that will be quoted by your posterity.
Spencer W. Kimball, President Kimball Speaks Out on Personal Journals, New Era, Dec 1980, 26

We Have Been Commanded to Write and be a Record-Keeping People

Tips for Writing Entry Dates Always date each entry with Day of the week, Month, Day, and Year, and sometimes even the time of day. Names Give the full name of a person when mentioning him/her for the first time. People who we think will always be our close friends may move away, and we may lose contact and forget names and situations. Ink Use a good quality black ball-point pen and paper. Never use messy felt-tip pen, colored pens, or pencil, because over a period of time these will become blurred, smudged, or faded. Table of Contents Reserve a couple pages in the front of the journal to record the page number of important happenings. Time of Day Set a specific time of day to write, such as evening before you go to bed, or early in the morning when you wake up. Descriptions Tell the who, what, where, when, and why of the things you do. Relate the decisions you made and how you reached those decisions. Paper Use acid-free paper; it will last longer without getting brittle or yellow

Pages Number your journal pages. Paper clips, staples, and pins rust, so they might stain journal pages. Over time, most tapes and glues become brittle and no longer hold. Newspaper clippings cause journal pages to turn yellow. Frequency Write something every day or at least once a week, and write for at least 15 minutes. It takes that much time to develop an idea. Place to Write Consider a certain place to write, one that when you sit there, you think of writing in your journal, or carry your journal around, and write down thoughts and ideas as they come. (or take loose papers with you on trips they can be added later). Reading your Journal Spend Time with Your Journal. Read your past entries to check on your writing style and content. Rereading revives memories and may suggest something else to record. Avoid using your journal as a scrapbook or photo album - these things should be kept separate. A journal is meant for thoughts, facts, and feelings.

Place to Keep Your Journal Your journal should be placed where you will see it every day. (I do not mind taking vitamins, but if I do not see them I do forget to take them.) Reminiscing Writing about an event that you witnessed today may remind you of something that happened in the past. Write it down while it is on your mind.

We hope you will begin as of this date. If you have not already commenced this important duty in your lives, get a good notebook, a good book that will last through time and into eternity for the angels to look upon. Begin today and write in it your goings and your comings, your deeper thoughts, your achievements, and your failures, your associations and your triumphs, your impressions and your testimonies.
Spencer W. Kimball, President Kimball Speaks Out on Personal Journals, New Era, Dec 1980, 26

We Have Been Commanded to Write and be a Record-Keeping People

Be Creative Occasionally add sketches, designs, photographs or poems to your entries Try using subtitles. Theyll help you locate a particular subject or event at a later date. Use color. Pens, stickers and photos work nicely. Make audio or video journal entries. You could film yourself talking about recent events, and interview the people involved Add pages from your day planner, if you keep one, to give an idea of the daily things you do. Include poems or quotations that catch your attention. Write them in an interesting way so they stand out. Decorate the exterior of your journal

Include selected keepsakes, some special things you create - such as a picture youve drawn or a poem or story youve written. You could include programs from plays youve been in or pictures of you, your family, and your friends.

From time immemorial the Lord has counseled us to be a record-keeping people.

Spencer W. Kimball, President Kimball Speaks Out on Personal Journals, New Era, Dec 1980, 26

2 Nephi 4:15 And upon these I write the things of my soul, and many of the scriptures which are engraven upon the plates of brass. For my soul delighteth in the scriptures, and my heart pondereth them, and writeth them for the learning and the prot of my children.

As we use personal journals for places to think, feel, discover, expand, remember, and dream, I believe we will come to better understand President Ezra Taft Bensons words: The Lord works from the inside out (A Witness and a Warning [1988], 64). My personal journal is helping me become more like Jesus Christ and reach my highest potential. That is why I will continue to keep my journalwhether my grandchildren ever read it or not.
Brad Wilcox, Why Write It?, Ensign, Sep 1999, 56